Slide container

ABSTRACT

A container comprising a substantially flat drawer-like shell having front, rear and parallel sidewalls, and a cover formed of a flat plate member having at least a pair of depending sidewalls overlapping the cover. The sidewalls of the cover are provided with supports and guide elements which hold the shell and permit it to slide inwardly and outwardly in a direction parallel to the sidewalls, in a telescoping manner. The supporting elements and the engaging portions of the shell are formed so that a smooth exterior surface, free of projections is provided.

United States Patent 1191 Starkermann et al.

[ Sept. 3, 1974 SLIDE CONTAINER [75] Inventors: Paul Starkermann, Zurich; Reinhold Birnath, Melide, both of Switzerland [73] Assignee: Paul Starkermann & Co., Zurich,

' Switzerland [22] Filed: Apr. 27, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 248,215

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data June 1, 1971 Switzerland 7911/71 52 US. Cl. "229 555,; 115/5; 51 rm. c1... B65d 83/04, B65d 85/56, B65d 43/12 [58] Field of Search 220/41; 229/9, 10, 11;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Upjohn 220/41 1,063,630 6/1913 Weeks 220/41 1,958,101 5/1934 2,162,222 6/1939 Lachter 206/42 UX 2,986,299 3/1961 Caparone et al. 220/41 X Primary Examiner-William T. Dixson, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or FirmMurray Schaffer I ABSTRACT A container comprising a substantially flat drawer-like shell having front, rear and parallel sidewalls, and a cover formed of a flat plate member having at least a pair of depending sidewalls overlapping the cover. The sidewalls of the cover are provided with supports and guide elements which hold the shell and permit it to slide inwardly and outwardly in a direction parallel to the sidewalls, in a telescoping manner. The supporting elements and the engaging portions of the shell are formed so that a smooth exterior surface, free of projections is provided.

3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures cam-333,143

PATENTEU 74 FIGJ FIG.2

SLIDE CONTAINER BACKGROUND OF INVENTION The present invention relates to a container for tablets and the like and in particular to a slide box container having a drawer-like shell and a cover slidable relative to it.

Many slide and shell containers are known in which the shell is enclosed by a cover which has flanged edges forming holding means for permitting it to slide relative to it. These small containers have sharp or square corners, in order to permit the cover to be shifted. Some boxes have been known to have bevelled or rounded corners, but these disturb and prevent smooth sliding operation of the shell within the cover, and prevent the shell and cover from securely locking and forming a watertight container. Furthermore, such containers have sharp projections formed by the overlapping edges of the cover on the shell. These sharp projections and edges snag and hook onto the fabric of the users pockets, pocket books etc. so that when they are removed they tear and destroy the material. Such containers have most often been made of tin plate, or similar thin metals. While such material is strong, the destructiveness and inability for smooth sliding operation is increased.

Plastic containers, mostly for matches are also known, which have a cover and shell having a guide groove and mating supporting rib which provides sliding action. Such a device, also has square pointed edges and sharp projections.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a container of the slide and shell variety overcoming the objections and disadvantages of the prior art.

It is another object of the present invention to pro- I vide a container having a smooth continuous, unitary exterior surface, free of any projections, sharp edges, corners or the like.

These objects, others, as well as numerous advantages will be apparent from the following disclosure.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION According to the present invention a container is provided comprising a substantially flat drawer-like shell having front, rear and parallel sidewalls, and a cover formed of a flat plate member having at least a pair of depending sidewalls overlapping the cover. The sidewalls of the cover are provided with supports and guide elements which hold the shell and permit it to slide inwardly and outwardly in a direction parallel to the sidewalls, in a telescoping manner. The supporting elements and the engaging portions of the shell are formed so that a smooth exterior surface, free of projections is provided. The corners of the shell and the cover, when looked at in plan view have rounded corners, the cover plate being conforming by dimensions to completely enclose the shell.

The sidewalls of the cover are cutback from the front edge so that the cover plate extends beyond the terminal edge of the sidewall. The corresponding corners of the shell are reinforced and enlarged. Each terminates in an edge along the sidewalls of the shell which abut and engage with the edges of the sidewalls of the cover to provide a smooth uniform continuous peripheral edge completely about the container.

In the above manner a container is formed which has no projections, sharp corners, or sharp edges, and

which completely encloses the interior of the container. 1

Full details of the present invention are set forth in the following disclosure and are shown in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the container of the present invention showing the shell and cover partly opened;

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the container closed;

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the container; and

FIG. 4 is a section along line IVIV of FIG. 1 in explosion, showing the shell and cover when separated.

The figures show a slide-box for tablets, pills and the like comprising a housing shell 1 and a cover 3 relatively slidable one within the other. The shell 1 is formed in the shape of a shallow drawer having a flat floor 5 and enclosing peripheral side walls 7, a front wall 9 and a back wall 11. When the box is opened, it displays the forward end generally depicted by the numeral 13. At this end the front wall 9 of the shell is provided with enlarged and reinforced rounded comers 15, which define in part a discharge opening 17 from which the closely and firmly packet tablets may be shaken free for removal. The discharge opening 17 is further defined by an inner wall 18, which extends from the front wall in a right angle curve to the far one of the sidewalls '7, forming a separate compartment in the front end of the shell 1 adjacent the discharge opening 17. The separate compartment may remain empty to permit the box to be turned over and tablets shaken out of the opening 17 in small doses or it too may be filled. The reinforced corners 15 of the front end terminate along the sidewalls 7 in a slightly enlarged bulk 20 having a vertical edge 21 which is adapted to abut against a corresponding edge formed on the cover member 3.

The cover 3 is formed of a flat cover plate 23 having a pair of depending sidewalls 25 and a depending rear closing wall 27, the dimensions of which conform to those of the shell, so that it may slidingly fit over and overlappingly enclose the shell. Accordingly the front corners of the cover plate 23 are rounded at 29 to conrounded. The sidewalls 25 of the cover 3 are cut back below the corners 29, as seen at 33 and are formed with vertical edges 35 which abut against the enlarged edge portions 21 of the corners 15. The free edges 37 of the depending side walls of the cover member are rolled over to extend inwardly (FIGS. 3 and 4) beneath the shell 1 to provide sliding rails, support, and holding means for the shell 1. The cross section of the edges 37, as seen in FIG. 4, indicates that its outer surface is flat and parallel to the cover plate while its inner surface is at an angle or bevel. The undersurface edges of the shell 1 are also formed with a corresponding bevel 39. The edges 37 along the parallel sidewalls form slide rails on which the shell edges 39 sit, thus permitting the two to slide relative to each other, while preventing the cover from being removed from the shell. The bevelled edges 39 on the shell sit within the cover 3, so that the entire outer exterior is free of any projections whatsoever, including those which would otherwise normally be expected between the cover and the shell surfaces. That is, it will be observed, that the undersurface of the box is as smooth as the upper surface. This arrangement may be replaced with a tongue in groove, or keyway and key arrangement of known type, if desired.

The undersurface of the cover plate is provided with a stop member 41 or detent which limits the forward movement of the shell and prevents the shell from being slidably removed from the cover. The stop member 41 may be placed at a selectively chosen position to also limit the discharge opening 17.

The present slide and shell arrangement is made out of plastic or other synthetic material. It has the advantage that in the closed condition the cover 3 can not be sprung from the shell 1 and thereby opened. Also, the cover member has a cover plate 23 coextensive with that of the shell 1 so that the shell and cover cooperate to form a completely unitarily enclosed water-tight container, having closed edges, corners, etc., provided by the overlapping edges 37 of the cover, and the interengaging edges 21, 35 of the front and sidewalls. The mating of the edges 21 and 35 of the front corners 15, and the sidewalls 25 are, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, advantageous, in that a continuous, uninterrupted smooth periphery is provided. The container box has rounded edges and smooth surfaces, completely free of projections, sharp edges and the like, so that is is not harmful or disturbing to the user, and can be carried in the most delicate of places and clothing without fear of damage.

It is only in the above manner that it is possible to make a box of the shell and slide variety having rounded edges and no projections in its surfaces. These rounded edges enable the filling and closing of the box and the packaging by suitable simple machines and in automated fashion. The rounded comers and smooth outer surfaces enable the user to put the box in his pocket without fear of its snagging on material, tearing the pocket fabric, or even injuring his hand with the sharp edges.

The present disclosure is illustrative of the invention and should not be taken as limiting of its scope.

What is claimed:

1. A container for tablets and the like comprising a substantially rectangular plastic drawer-like shell having front, rear, and parallel side walls meeting in rounded comers, and a plastic cover enclosing the shell, said cover having a flat member conforming to the shape of said shell and having peripheral edges coextensive therewith, said cover having parallel sidewalls depending from its side edges which overlap the shell and a rear wall depending from its rear edge meeting said sidewalls in rounded corners conforming to said shell, said side and rear walls being provided with guide and support elements which cooperate with the respective surfaces of the shell to form a form-fit therewith free of extending projections, said depending sidewalls of said cover being cut back from the front edge of said corner to form abutting edges terminated short of the front edge thereof, the rounded corners of said shell terminating adjacent the sidewalls thereof in abutting the respective edges of said sidewalls of said cover to prevent movement of said cover relative to said shell in one direction, said edges of said shell being enlarged to form a smooth continuous periphery with the depending sidewalls of the cover.

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the depending sides have an inwardly rolled edge having an outer surface parallel to the cover plate and an inner surface bevelled at an angle to form the supporting elements, said shell being bevelled along the opposing surfaces sufficiently to permit the inwardly turned edges to fit within the overall outline of the cover without projecting edges.

3. The container according to claim 2 including detent means for limiting the outward movement of said shell from said cover in the other direction. 

1. A container for tablets and the like comprising a substantially rectangular plastic drawer-like shell having front, rear, and parallel side walls meeting in rounded corners, and a plastic cover enclosing the shell, said cover having a flat member conforming to the shape of said shell and having peripheral edges coextensive therewith, said cover having parallel sidewalls depending from its side edges which overlap the shell and a rear wall depending from its rear edge meeting said sidewalls in rounded corners conforming to said shell, said side and rear walls being provided with guide and support elements which cooperate with the respective surfaces of the shell to form a form-fit therewith free of extending projections, said depending sidewalls of said cover being cut back from the front edge of said corner to form abutting edges terminated short of the front edge thereof, the rounded corners of said shell terminating adjacent the sidewalls thereof in abutting the respective edges of said sidewalls of said cover to prevent movement of said cover relative to said shell in one direction, said edges of said shell being enlarged to form a smooth continuous periphery with the depending sidewalls of the cover.
 2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the depending sides have an inwardly rolled edge having an outer surface parallel to the cover plate and an inner surface bevelled at an angle to form the supporting elements, said shell being bevelled along the opposing surfaces sufficiently to permit the inwardly turned edges to fit within the overall outline of the cover without projecting edges.
 3. The container according to claim 2 including detent means for limiting the outward movement of said shell from said cover in the other direction. 